Sanitary process of packing a subject into a vessel

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a sanitary process of packing a subject into a vessel which comprises the steps of producing combined vessels each having vessels whose peripheral side walls at mouth portions we facing to each other and are continuously joined with each other, the said combined vessels having inner spaces in communication with each other only through passages within the side walls at mouth portions and each of the combined vessels being so formed that when it is separated at the junction of the peripheral side walls at mouth portions the openings thus formed by separation serve as mouths of the vessels, the walls of vessels other than the mouth portions being perfectly closed; separating the combined vessels at the junction of the peripheral side walls before charging an object into vessels to obtain separated vessels; charging a subject into the separated vessels as they are or into vessels formed by modifying the separated vessels as desired; and sealing the mouths of vessels. The vessels, until they are severed from combined vessels just before use, can be retained with great case and high reliability in sanitary, clean condition free from germs or foreign matters. In spite of these advantages, the present invention can almost eliminate waste of material throughout the entire process starting with the feeding of materials and terminating with the production of vessels ready for use.

United States Patent Takehara [451 Sept. 12, 1972 SANITARY PROCESS OF PACKING A Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon SUBJECT INTO A VESSEL Assistant ExaminerEugene F. Desmond [72] Inventor: Hiraki Takehara, Nigawa-cho 3- Atmmey Edwm Grelgg chome 40, 662 Hyogo-ken,

Nishinomiya, Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Sept 15, 1969 The present invention relates to a sanitary process of packing a sub ect into a vessel which comprises the PP 8 ,772 steps of producing combined vessels each having vessels whose peripheral side walls at month portions we [30] Foreign Application Priority Data facing to each other and are continuously joined with each other, the said combined vessels having inner Sept. 25, Japan paces in communication with each other only Sept. 26, Japan through passages within the side walls at mouth por- Sept. 26, Japan tions and each of the combined vessels being so Dec. 27, Japan formed when is separated at the junction of the peripheral side walls at mouth portions the openings U-S- Cl- ..v "264/98, thus formed eparation erve as mouths of the yes. [51] llit. Cl. ..B29c 17/07, B65b 3/06 sels the waiis of vessels other than the mouth portions [58] Field of Search ..53/29, 140; 18/14, 5 B, 5 E, being perfectly closed; separating the combined 18/ 5 3T, 5 5 sels at the junction of the peripheral side walls before 176 176 177 charging an object into vessels to obtain separated vessels; charging a subject into the separated vessels as [56] References cued they are or into vessels formed by modifying the UNITED STATES PATENTS separated vessels as desired; and sealing the mouths of vessels. The vessels, until they are severed from com- 1 R005 X bined vessels just before use can be retained Hobson .5 great case and in anitary clean condi. Pannenbecker X tion free from germs o foreign matters In spite of I n u n I almost DObblnS at al li i waste f t i l th h t th ti 3,394,209 7/ 1968 Cheney 146 X process starting with the feeding of materials and ter- 3,539,670 11/1970 Hall 1 8/5 B X minating with the production of vessels ready for 2,975,473 3/1961 Hagen et al. ..l8/5 BB X 2 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 SHEET 1 0F 5 Fig 2 INVENTOR.

PATENTEB 8E? 12 m2 SHEET 3 0F 5 Fig ll Fig 6 PATENTEDSEPIZ 1912 3 691 267 SHEET I4 0F 5 FigJO PATENTEDsEP 12 m2 3.691.267

sum 5 or 5 Fig l3 Fig l2 Q SANITARY PROCESS OF PACKING A SUBJECT INTO A VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a conventional practice, openended bottles are produced as finished products by molding operation at a manufacturing factory and the bottles produced as then send to a filling factory, where they are finally filled with contents. With such a conventional method, however, bottles are transported with their mouths for charging contents left open, and accordingly the interior of the bottles get soled or become infected with germs while the bottles are being sent from the manufacturing factory to the filling factory. The conventional method is therefore defective in that just before the filling operation bottles have to be cleaned and sterilized at the filling factory every time they are to be filled with contents. This means that besides required filling apparatuses there is a need to carry out operations for cleaning, sterilizing and the like and to provide additional means for such operations, so that the over all equipment becomes more complex and larger in scale while the efficiency of the filling operation intended is impaired due tothe necessity of cleaning and sterilizing operations, this further giving rise to an inevitable cost increase.

It is therefore desired that, in view of the flow of bottles in accordance with current practice, operations and equipments for cleaning, sterilization and the like be dispensed with so that cost reduction can be achieved by simplifying the operation at the filling factory and improving its efficiency. It is also desired to reduce the waste of material (portions removed and discarded) which has conventionally been encountered in manufacturing bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned improvements desired have been effected by the present invention which provides sanitary vessels and a sanitary process of packing a subject into a vessel.

In accordance with a sanitary process of packing a subject into a vessel of the present invention, combined vessels, which are primary products, are first produced at a manufacturing factory. The combined vessel comprises vessels whose peripheral side walls at mouth portions facing toward each other are continuously joined with each other, with or without at least one weak point provided at the joined portion so as to facilitate separation. The inner spaces of the vessels are communicated with each other only through the passages within the peripheral side walls at mouth portions and except at the mouth portions joined together the vessels are completely closed. The combined vessels are then sent to the filling factory where, just before the contents are charged in, the combined vessels are separated at the junction of the side walls at the mouth portions to obtain vessels as secondary products, or the vessels thus formed are further subjected to molding operation to obtain bottles. Accordingly, until the filling operation is effected, the interior of the vessels or bottles thus formed can be perfectly protected against unexpected invasion of germs or foreign matters to thereby ensure perfectly sanitary, clean and easy operation in charging the contents and sealing the mouths of these containers to provide finished products. The advantages of the present invention are as follows:

a. Operations to clean and sterilize the vessels just before the filling operation and equipments for such operations can be dispensed with and as a result, the operations at filling factory can be simplified along with the improvement of operation efficiency, hence cost reduction of finished products. The combined vessels, being kept free from germs or foreign matters until filling operation is done as described above, can be retained over a long period with the interior in sealed condition, so that there arises no difficulty in storing then in large quantity in less bulky condition. c. Since such a large quantity can be stored, a desired number of vessels can be supplied for mass filling and production operations in case of emergency. Since the combined vessel comprises vessels having peripheral side walls disposed at mouth portions facing toward each other and joined continuously with each other, each of the vessels serves as a cover for the other and, when separated, respective vessels serve as individual vessels. What is produced being entirely constituent material of the vessels, all of the material used in production can be made into vessels without waste. In addition the articles stored and transported after production are all none other than the vessels themselves, so that highly rational transportation and storage are ensured.

e. The combined vessel obtained by the present invention is separated, at the junction of the side walls at mouth portions, into vessels to be used as vessel materials. These separated vessels are subjected to molding operation by heating and air pressure as desired. The vessels thus formed are to be used as bottles for commercial purposes and the contents are charged therein withthe mouths thereafter sealed as finished products. In this case, the vessels are filled with contents after they have been made into desired bottles of large capacity by being subjected to molding operation with application of heat and air pressure, although the combined vessels can be stored in a large quantity in less bulky condition, hence the vessels are extremely convement. Whereas the separated vessels have perfectly been sanitized as previously described, the heating for molding operation serves to sterilize the interior of the bottles once again with the result that a trouble-free filling operation is ensured after molding.

An object of the present invention is to provide combined vessels each comprising vessels joined with each other, the junction of the vessels being provided with at least one weak point which are made especially weaker than the adjacent portions on both sides thereof, or the junction being provided with a weak line over the entire circumference which acts as the weak point and which is made especially weaker than the adjacent portions on both sides thereof, the combined vessels thus being made easy to separate at the weak points. Therefore, the separation of combined vessels can always be effected readily and with great case while dispensing with a special, large-scale cutting off apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide combined vessels such as above-mentioned in each of which the cylindrical wall at the junction is projected inwardly so as to form an acute angle in longitudinal section with portions on both sides of and adjacent to the specially weak line provided along the junction, the

separation of the combined vessel thereby being facilitated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide combined vessels in each of which the cylindrical wall at the junction is projected outwardly of the combined vessels so as to form smooth convex surfaces in longitudinal section with portions on both sides of and adjacent to the specially weak line provided along the junction, whereby the combined vessel can be made easy to separate. In case where the vessels obtained by separation are to be used as they are or after they have been shaped into a desired form, there is no need whatever to modify the shape of the mouths.

Another object of the present invention to provide combined vessels in each of which the cylindrical wall at the junction is projected outwardly in longitudinal section respectively at the annular portions on both sides of and adjacent to the specially weak line, the opposite side portions of each of projected center being positioned proximate to each other. At the time when the vessels obtained by separating the combined vessels at the especially weak portion are modified into bottles, the two sides facing to each other of each projected annular fold positioned at the separated portion are pressed into fitting contact with each other so as to eliminate the angle formed by the two sides, whereby a tough mouth portion is obtained which is greater in thickness than the wall of the vessel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide vessels each having a fused portion disposed at an end opposite to the open end where they are joined into the combined vessel, the fused portion being formed by gathering the end portion toward its axis, the distance between the axis and the extremities of the fused portion being smaller than that between the axis and the side surface of vessel body, the closure thereby being effected uniformly over the entire bottom area of the vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view partly in vertical section illustrating a step in the sanitary process of packing a subject into a vessel, with the material shown before being shaped into a combined vessel;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view partly broken away showing the material as it is being fused into shape to obtain a combined vessel;

FIG. 4 is a front view partly in vertical section showing a combined vessel as it is to be cut off after it has been shaped;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a combined vessel as it has been shaped;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section showing the combined vessel in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 and 8 are front views in vertical section showing a separated vessel as it is being molded;

FIG. 9 is a front view partly broken away showing a bottle as it has been molded;

FIG. 10 is a front view partly broken away showing a separated vessel;

FIG. 11 is a view in vertical section showing a combined vessel in Embodiment 3;

FIG. 12 is a view in vertical section showing a combined vessel in Embodiment 4;

FIG. 13 is a front view in vertical section showing the separated vessel in FIG. 12 as it is being molded;

FIG. 14 is a front view partly broken away showing the bottle molded from the vessel in F IO. 13;

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the fused portion of a vessel in Embodiment 5;

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the fused portion of vessel in Embodiment 6; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the fused portion of a vessel in Embodiment 7.

EMBODIMENT 1 Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, an apparatus for producing combined vessels employed for a sanitary process of packing a subject into a vessel in accordance with the present invention will be described.

A cylindrical body 52 heated to a high temperature is extruded continuously from an extruder 51. Externally fitting around the cylindrical body 52 are suction type holding means 53, 54 for supporting the cylindrical body which are spaced apart by a suitable distance in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 52. These holding means 53, 54 comprise annular members 57, 58 having inner spaces 55, 56, suction holes 59, 60 communicating with the inner spaces 55, 56 and opened toward the cylindrical body 52 and cooling means provided with cooling water passages 82, 83 and disposed externally around the inner spaces 55, 56. By means of pipes 61, 62, the inner spaces 55, 56 comm unicate with a suction means (not shown) for effecting sucking action, while the cooling water passages 82, 83 communicate with the cooling means (not shown) through appropriate pipes. Disposed between the holding means 53 and 54 are gathering members 63 which are positioned at three portions in radial directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the extruded cylindrical body 52, the gathering members being in the shape of home bases with the smallest acute angles directed toward the cylindrical body. These gathering members 63 are adapted to be moved concurrently toward or away from the cylindrical body by a drive means (not shown), a squeezing means 65 being so arranged that the gathering members 63, when moved concurrently toward the cylindrical body 52, may press against and gather the heated cylindrical body 52 from the wall portion facing to the members toward the center thereof to form a closed portion 64 by fusing, with the result that a sealed body 79 is formed at a position beneath the gathering members 63. Between the gathering members there is provided a cutting off means 78 adapted to be moved toward or away from the closed portion 64 formed by these gathering member 63. The cutting off means 78 comprises a support member 77 to be moved by drive means (not shown), a heating member to be electrically heated within the support member 77 and a cutter 98 having an edge 92 fixed to the forward ends of heat conductive members 91, 91 having high thermal conductivity and extending from the heating member 90.

Under the lower holding means 54, around the sealed body 79 between a closed portion 64 and the preceding closed portion 64, semicylindrical members 66, 66 are provided in longitudinal direction with the inner concave surfaces 67, 67 facing to the sealed body 79. The semicylindrical members 66, 66 are fixed to ends of piston rods 70, 70 of hydraulic cylinder means 69, 69 fixedly mounded on a base frame 68 so as to be moved toward or away from the sealed body 79 by the respective piston rods 70, 70 which are telescopically moved by switching the fluid supply from fluid supply means (not shown) to the cylinder means 69, 69 by way of pipes 71, 71, 72, 72. The radius of the respective inner concave surfaces 67, 67 are approximately equal to the outer radius of the sealed body 79 so that the semicyclindrical members 66, 666, when brought closest toward each other may allow the respective end surfaces 73, 73 to abut against each other for the respective inner concave faces 67, 67 to hold the sealed body 78 therebetween. Formed at intermediate positions along the length of the semicylindrical members 66, 66, on the inner concave faces 67, 67, circumferential concave grooves 77, 75 substantially of threeshaped section and having annular projections 74, 74 at the center. By way of pipes 76, 76, these concave grooves 75, 75 communicate with suction means (not shown). Within the semicylindrical members 66, 66, there are provided cooling water passages 84, 84 which are in communication with cooling water supply means (not shown) through pipes 85, 85, 86, 86. Thus, weak point forming means is constructed with the arrangement above.

The respective gathering members 63 and semicylindrical members 66, 66 are adapted to be moved concurrently toward or away from the cylindrical body 52 or sealed body 79. The cutting off means 78 is so controlled that it may be advanced toward the closed portion 64 for cutting operation after the gathering members 63 have been retreated from the closed portion 64 upon forming the closed portion 64. The respective holding means 53, 54, squeezing means 65, weak point forming means and cutting off means 78 are all incorporated into a unitary assembly. During operation the component means are moved downward at the same speed as the extrusion of the cylindrical body 52 and upon completion of the operation they are moved upward to the original position.

Accordingly, the cylindrical body 52, as it is extruded from the extruder 51 in continuous operation as shown in FIG. 1, is subjected at a regular spacing to squeezing operation by the means 65 for forming closed portions as seen in FIG. 2 to form the closed portions 64. At the time when the closed portion 64 is formed, the holding means 53 performs sucking action to retain the cylindrical body 52 against lateral deflection, while the water passing through the cooling water passages 82, 83 cools the portion near the squeezing position. During the operation for forming the closed portion 64. The respective semicylindrical members 66, 66 are moved toward the sealed body 79 with the respective end surfaces 73, 73 brought into contact with each other so as to hold the sealed body 79 between the inner concave faces 67, 67, whereupon sucking action by way of the pipes 76, 76 is initiated into operation. Due to this sucking action the wall of the sealed body 79 heated to a high temperature and facing to the inner circumferential concave grooves 75,

is attracted to the grooves 75, 75 into contact therewith and is molded in convex shape. At the time of this molding operation the intermediate portion between the portions respectively shaped in convex form due to the presence of the projections 74, 74 is made smaller in diameter or in thickness than the convex portions, thereby providing a weak line 80 which is particularly lower in strength than the convex portions. Instead of forming this weak portion with the weak line, this portion may be formed with at least one weak point. Thus, between the weak line or point 80 and the closed portions 64, 64 obtained by fusing, vessels 88 are formed which are joined with each other at the weak line or point 80, the sealed body 79 constituting a combined vessel. The semicylindrical members 66, 66 cooled by the water passing through the cooling water passages 84, 84 cool the combined vessel. After the closed portion 64 and weak line or point 80 have been formed, the cutting off means 78 is operated to cut off the closed cylindrical body 64 at an intermediate portion by means of the edge 92 at the end of the cutter 93 heated by the heating member through the heat conductive members 91, 91 as shown in FIG. 3, thus providing a combined vessel 79, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, which has closed portions 64, 64 at opposite ends and a weak line or point 80 at the circumferential junction of the vessels 88. By dividing the combined vessel 79 along its weak line or point 80 as indicated in an imaginary line, separated vessels 88, 88, each having an opening 81 at one end, are obtained. These separated vessels 88, 88 are then filled with contents as they are or after they have been modified into a desired shape as required, and the openings 81, 81 are thereafter sealed.

In accordance with the process for packing in vessels of the present invention, the combined vessels produced as primary products are sent to a filling factory, where they are separated at the specially weak point just before the filing operation and put to use, so that between the formation of combined vessels as primary products and filling operation for charging contents into the vessels thus obtained as secondary products or into vessels produced by subjecting them to further molding operation, the interior of the vessels as secondary products or of the further modified vessels are perfectly protected against invasion of germs or foreign matters. As a result, filling and mouth sealing opera tions to obtain finished products can be carried out in perfectly sanitary and clean condition with great ease and high reliability. Accordingly, the advantages set forth in sections (a) to (e) in Summary of the Invention" are ensured.

EMBODIMENT 2 With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, an apparatus for molding the separated vessels of this invention into a desired shape will be described.

0n the side portion of a base frame 101 adapted to be rotated intermittently about a horizontal axis are disposed molding frames 102, 102 which are so separated by an axis substantially parallel to the horizontal axis and adapted to be moved toward or away from each other. These molding frames 102, 102 are provided with inner molding faces 103, 103. When these two molding frames 102, 102 are in contact with each other, the inner molding faces 103, 103 define a molding space 104, while at the side portion opposite to the base frame 101, there is formed an opening 105 in communication with the molding space 104. Beside the outer side portion of the molding frames 102, 102, there is provided a cover frame 106 adapted to be moved toward and away from the side portions of the frames 102, 102. Extending from the side face of the cover frame 106 is a holder 107 which is so positioned as to be moved into the molding space 104 through the opening 105 when the cover frame 106 is urged sidewise into abutting contact with the side portions of the molding frames 102, 102. Air discharge holes 108.. formed in the holder 107 at positions proximate to the cover frame 106 are in communication with a blower (not shown) through a passage 109. A vent 110 serving as an outlet for the air in the molding space 104 is formed in the base frame 101. A closed-ended cylindrical body 112 serving as a vessel and obtained by dividing the combined vessel of a thermoplastic material at the especially weak line is supported on the holder 107 at its mouth edge 113 at one end. The closed-ended cylindrical body 112, as it is held on the holder 107, is heated by another device. The cylindrical body 112 and the holder 107 are then inserted into the molding space 104 within the molding frames held in contact with each other, or they may be nipped by the spaced apart molding frames 102, 102 on the opposite sides. After the cover frame 106 is brought into contact with the molding frames 102, 102, air is supplied through discharge holes 108 to the space 115 within the closedended cylindrical body, with the result that the closedended cylindrical body 112 is expanded into the shape in conformity with the inner molding face 103 as shown in FIG. 8. At this time, the air within the molding space 104 is discharged through the vent 110. The vessel which has been molded as shown in FIG. 8 is taken out from the frames by releasing the cover frame 106 and thereafter removing the molding frames 102, 102 to obtain a funished vessel shown in FIG. 9.

That is to say, the vessels in accordance with this embodiment, before they are used as material for vessels, are handled as combined vessels with vessel portions joined together by especially weak wall portions in sealed condition. It is when they are to be used as vessel material that they are separated at the specially weak line into bottomed cylindrical bodies 112 each having an open end, the vessels thus separated thereafter being shaped into vessels 1 16 of desired form.

Therefore, until they are used as vessel material the closed-ended cylindrical bodies 112 can be kept in excellent sanitary condition, perfectly free from impurities such as germs or foreign matters. In addition, since the separated vessels are subjected to molding operation just before they are used as materials for vessels, they remain less bulky until the molding operation is done, hence convenient to handle for transportation or storage. Furthermore, the heating operation given to the cylindrical bodies 112 just before the use as vessel material serves to sterilize the interior 115 once again although they have already been sanitarized perfectly. As a result the operation to fill the molded vessels with contents can be carried out free of trouble.

EMBODIMENT 3 A third embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 11.

At a position along the circumference of the combined vessel 204 having closed portions 201 202 at opposite ends and an inner space 203, there is formed a weak wall portion 208 which is particularly lower in strength than any other wall portion of the combined vessel 204. The wall portion 208, which is especially weak, is projected inwardly of the combined vessel 204 in the form of an acute angle, and the adjacent wall portions on both sides of the weak portion 208 are bent outwardly in convex from with smooth curved surfaces to form convex peripheral edges 209, 210. Between the convex peripheral edges 209 and 210, the combined vessel 204 is separated into two portions along the weak portion projected inwardly of the combined vessel 204 in the form of an acute angle. The separated vessels 211, 212 of closed-ended cylindrical form thus obtained serve as vessels for commercial purposes or as material for vessels.

Accordingly, the tensile stress to be produced by bending the combined vessel 204 tends to takes place concentrically at the innermost portion of the weak wall which is inwardly projected in the form of an acute angle, so that the combined vessel 204 can be separated readily. Furthermore, the inward projection of the weak portion 208 which forms an acute angle also acts to produce a notching effect at the innermost portion in the weak wall 208 when the combined vessel is bent and consequently, the notching effect also facilitates the separation of the combined vessel 204. The especially weak portion 208, being projected inwardly of the combined vessel 204 in the form of an acute angle, further serves to guide correctly a cutting instrument such as an edged tool when it is pressed against the intermediate portion of the combined vessel 204 to separate the combined vessel 204 by mechanical cutting off operation. This ensures accurate and facilitated separation to be effected by mechanical cutting operation.

The convex peripheral edges 209, 210 formed with outwardly projected smooth curved surfaces and provided on the both sides of and adjacent to the specially weak wall 208 improve the strength of the wall of on both sides of the weak wall 208 with the presence of the quadratic surface thus provided. With this structure, the side wall portions are perfectly protected against development of unexpected strain or deformation when the combined vessel 204 is to be separated at the weak wall portion 208. That is to say, the peripheral edges at the mouths of separated vessels in the form of open-ended, bottomed cylinder obtained by separating the combined vessel 204 at the weak wall portion 208 are entirely free from strain or deformation and consequently, there is no need to modify or reform the shape of the mouths when the separated vessels 211, 212 are to be used, as they are, as vessels for commercial purposes or employed as vessel materials to be shaped into the form of desired vessels. Since the convex peripheral edges 209, 210, as they are, form the mouth brims of the separated vessels 211, 212 obtained by separation as above described, the convex peripheral edges 209, 210, serving as the mouth brims when the separated vessels are used as finished products, can be utilized to great advantage for engagement with closures to be fitted thereto.

That is to say, in case where the separated vessels are used as containers, it is not necessary to reform the brim portions into convex peripheral edge form, but the convex circumferential edges 209, 210 on both sides of the especially weak portion 208 so formed in advance for separation of the combined vessel 204 can be utilized as they are for receiving a cap or cover therein. In case where the vessel is used for beverage use as a container, such as a milk bottle, whose mouth portion is to be kept in contact with the lip in drinking the contents, the provision of the convex brim serves to' make the vessel feel good to the touch when the brim is brought into contact with the lip.

EMBODIMENT 4 Referring to FIGS. 13 to 14, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

A combined vessel 304 having closed portions 301, 302 at opposite ends and an inner space 303 is provided, at a position along a circumferential portion thereof, with a particularly weaker wall portion 305 as compared with any wall portions of the combined vessel 304 other than the above-mentioned portion. The walls 306, 307 on both sides of the weak wall portion 305 are protruded outwardly to form folded walls 309, 310 with intermediate acute angle portions 308 interposed therebetween, with the result that annular projections 311, 312 bent at an acute angle are formed on the both sides of the weak wall portion 305. Along the weak wall portion 305 between the annular projections 311 and 312, the combined vessel 304 is separated into two portions, and the closed-ended separated vessels 313, 314 thus obtained are employed as vessels.

After the combined vessel 304 has been divided into two parts at the weak wall portion 305 as shown in FIG. 12, the separated vessel 313 or 314 is placed in a molding frame 315 with its annular projection 311 or 312 held in engagement with edge portion 316 at an side end of the frame so that the closed portion 301 or 302 may be projected into the molding frame 315. In facing contact with the opening 317 formed at the annular projection 311 or 312 by the above-mentioned separation is an annular metal holder 319 carrying a nozzle 318 for supplying a hot blast. In this arrangement, a hot blast is discharged through the nozzle 318 into the separated vessel 313 or 314 to beat and soften the vessel in its entirety by the thermal energy, and due to the blast pressure it is formed into a vessel 320 as shown in an imaginary line in FIG. 13. During this molding operation, the metal holder 319 moves towards the annular projection 311 or 312 which is supported on the edge portion 316 at the side end of the molding frame 315, thereby exerting a pressure on the side wall 306 or 307 so as to eliminate the acute angle portion 308, with the result that the side wall 306 or 307 is brought into fitting contact with the folded wall 309 or 310 to form a thick mouth portion 321. In this manner the vessel 320 with thick mouth portion 321 as seen in FIG. 14 is obtained.

Thus, at the time when the vessel 320 is formed by molding the separated vessel so several at the weak wall portion 305 from the combined vessel, the two side wall portions 306, 309 or 307, 310 in facing relationship with each other of the annular projection 311 or 312 are pressed into contact with each other so as to eliminate the angle portion 308 formed by the two side wall portions 306, 309 or 307, 310, whereby the mouth portion 321 which is strong and greater in thickness than the wall of the combined vessel 304 can be obtained. Now it becomes possible to produce the excellent vessel 320 in extremely easy and reliable manner.

EMBODIMENT 5 Referring to FIG. 15, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The side wall of each vessel or vessel material 451 forming the combined vessel is gathered together from three or more portions spaced apart by a suitable distance along the circumference toward the center of the vessel 451 to form at a closed portion 452 three or more fused folds 453 radially extending from the axis of the vessel 451, the distance between the axis and the extremities of each of the fused folds being smaller than that between the axis and the side surface of the vessel body.

The closed portion 452, being formed with three or more fused folds 453 extending radially from the axis of the vessel or of vessel material 451, ensures substantially uniform closure over the entire bottom area of the separated vessel to be obtained by separation. During the subsequent molding operation to obtain a finished product from the separated vessel, the fused folds 453 expand radially from the axis of the vessel without giving rise to localized greater expansion in the bottom. The molding of a desired vessel can thus be achieved with expansion of the fused folds 453 effected uniformly over the entire width of fusing 454 and in various directions to fulfil the objects set forth in Embodiment 2.

EMBODIMENT 6 Referring to FIG. 16, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The side wall of a vessel or vessel material 501 is gathered together from circumferential portions so as to form a closed portion 502 of the combined vessel with a relatively short, linear fused fold 503 positioned diametrically at the center of each vessel forming the combined vessel and with fused folds 504, 504 each extending radially outwardly from each end of the short, linear fused fold 503, the distance between the axis and the extremities of the fused fold being smaller than that between the axis and the side surface of the vessel body.

The provision of radially extending fused folds 504, 504 formed by gathering the side wall of the vessel or vessel material 5.01 inwardly from circumferential portions and spaced apart at opposite ends of the linear fused fold 503 serves, at'the time of fusing operation, to restrict the movement toward the axis of .the vessel or vessel material of the fused sealing wall at the abovementioned two portions to a relatively small extent, this further preventing development of exceedingly great expansion of fused portions 503, 504 when the wall is gathered toward the axis to ensure strong fusion as desired. Furthermore, since the radially extending fused folds 504, 504 are spaced apart at two portions, the number of fused folds to be formed at the point where the radial fused folds 504, 504 are concentrated can be reduced as compared with the case where the fused folds 504, 504 are so concentrated as to extend radially from only, one portion, hence reliable fusing can be effected at the concentrated point. That is to say, the concentrated point of the fused folds is almost free from unexpected objections such as development of an opening to ensure disired fusing operation and yet, during vessel molding operation when the bottom wall is to be expanded, the bottom portion expands from each of the two separated points of concentration and as a result the entire bottom area is expanded with great ease to effect desired vessel molding and to thereby fulfil the objects stated in Embodiment 2.

EMBODIMENT 7 Referring to FIG. 17 a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The circumferential portion on opposite sides of the vessel or vessel material forming the combined vessel are gathered together inward to form a fused fold 553 in zigzag form, the distance between the axis and the extremities of each of the fused folds being smaller than that between the axis and the side surface of the vessel body. By providing the fused fold 553 in such zigzag form all of the fused points forming the fused fold 552 can be formed by being gathered from two opposite sides. Unlike in the case where two or more fused folds are concentrated at one portion for fusing as with radially gathered fused folds, a fused fold produced by being gathered from two sides markedly facilitates the fusing operation with high reliability. The expansion of the bottom can be achieved uniformly over its entire area at the time of vessel molding operation and objects stated inEmbodiment 2 can thus be achieved.

What I claim is:

1. The process of forming inverted longitudinally aligned hollow articles which comprises extruding a tube of material from an extrusion nozzle, retaining the tube of material by suction while forming the body of the receptacle, deforming and sealing the tube of material to provide a closed end portion of a first receptacle, advancing the tube of material longitudinally relative to the extrusion nozzle a distance sufficient to compensate for subsequent formation of another inverted receptacle, forming longitudinally juxtaposed parallel annular channel areas in said tube of material to provide a weakened, frangible portion lying therebetween, deforming another portion of the advanced tube of material to provide a closed end portion of a second receptacle and severing the extruded material adjacent to said end portion to form separable receptacles.

2. The process of forming hollow articles as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of separating the hollow bodies, positioning one of the hollow bodies on a holding means, heating the said hollow body, inserting the holding means and said hollow body into a separable mold and expanding the hollow body to form it into a different configuration, and subsequently filling the hollow body with contents. 

1. The process of forming inverted longitudinally aligned hollow articles which comprises extruding a tube of material from an extrusion nozzle, retaining the tube of material by suction while forming the body of the receptacle, deforming and sealing the tube of material to provide a closed end portion of a first receptacle, advancing the tube of material longitudinally relative to the extrusion nozzle a distance sufficient to compensate for subsequent formation of another inverted receptacle, forming longitudinally juxtaposed parallel annular channel areas in said tube of material to provide a weakened, frangible portion lying therebetween, deforming another portion of the advanced tube of material to provide a closed end portion of a second receptacle and severing the extruded material adjacent to said end portion to form separable receptacles.
 2. The process of forming hollow articles as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of separating the hollow bodies, positioning one of the hollow bodies on a holding means, heating the said hollow body, inserting the holding means and said hollow body into a separable mold and expanding the hollow body to form it into a different configuration, and subsequently filling the hollow body with contents. 